Author Archives: Mary Anne

Is Snacking Getting in the Way of Weight Loss?

Yes, here we go again..I’m a snacker. In the old days, the minute I was a tiny bit hungry, I would head to the kitchen, look for something tasty (or whatever was available) and pretty much eat the whole thing. But those days are over, and although I still have snacks on a daily basis, I’ve turned them into a metabolism booster between meals instead of a dietary disadvantage. Dietary guru’s and nutritional experts alike recommend eating something small between meals to boost energy levels and prevent you from eating too much at lunch or the dinner table. But they’re … Continue reading →

Super Bowl Recipes and Diet Tips

Think You Have to Stay Home and Watch the Super Bowl While Eating a Salad? Think again. Yes, we’re hitting another dieter road block—the Super Bowl. Just a mere week away,the Super Bowl doesn’t mean just watching football and a bunch of great commercials. To me, it means beer, chips and dips and greasy meatballs simmering in some kind of sauce that I shouldn’t be eating. If you’ve been reading this blog at all—you know the standards that apply to stick to your diet in these types of situations… 1. Eat a small meal before you go. You’ll be less … Continue reading →

Low Calorie Mexican Bean Dip

Just in time for the Super Bowl, this party favorite is so yummie, they won’t even notice that it’s low calorie (I don’t even tell!)!! Ingredients:16 oz fat-free canned refried beans 3 medium avocados, finely mashed 1/4 tsp table salt 1 tsp fresh lemon juice 1 cup fat-free sour cream 2 Tbsp Fajita seasoning mix 1/2 cup Kraft Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese, 2 small tomatoes, chopped 2 medium scallion(s), sliced 10 medium olive(s), black, sliced or chopped 2 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped Directions: 1. Spread beans evenly over bottom of a 9 X 13-inch glass baking dish or a medium-size … Continue reading →

Sunday Afternoon Chicken

If you’re a busy mom like me, most Sunday’s are reserved for running errands, cleaning house and getting ready for the week….but maybe, just maybe, Sunday is reserved for taking it easy and getting READY for the week to begin. For me, I dread cooking on Sunday’s, and would much rather stick to the homestead than eat out. Meet Sunday Afternoon Chicken–aptly named by someone who like most of us, hated cooking on Sunday. It’s simple, easy, and pretty tasty if I do say so myself–my two year old even loves it, if that gives you any idea of just … Continue reading →

“Skinny Mini” Pigs in a Blanket

Hi everyone—it’s Mary Anne, the Weight Loss Blogger. As you can imagine, after a year of dieting, I’ve got a few (million) yummie low cal recipes at my fingertips and I thought I could throw some out on the Food Blog for everyone to enjoy. As Libby previously mentioned, the Super Bowl is right around the corner—but what’s a dieter to do when you head to your Super Bowl party only to be engulfed in a swarm of chili con queso, beanie weenies, chips, dips and the like? Well, you might want to check out the Weight Loss Blog for … Continue reading →

Miracle Pill or False Hope?

I saw an interesting blurb in the Kansas City Star this morning, and I don’t exactly know what to think. You’ve probably seen it on the news, federal health officials voted Monday to recommend over-the-counter sales of a weight-loss pill now sold only with a prescription. The diet pill is already marketed in prescription form as Zenical– an FDA approved prescription version of the fat-blocking drug. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare still needs final Food and Drug Administration approval before it can sell the nonprescription version, called Orlistat. If approved by the FDA, Orlistat will be the first weight-loss drug sanctioned for … Continue reading →

Mary Anne’s Product of the Week

Ever Wondered About that Diet Product in the Grocery Isle? I’m going to reserve Friday’s as my unsponsored product of the week day. As a Gen-X/Yer, I’m a sucker for any kind of new product, especially diet ones. I’ll be everyone’s diet product guinea pig and let you know my rants and raves. If you’ve got any suggestions, product raves or something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t, shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you!!! This week’s product: GeniSoy Soy Crisps. First of all, yum. These oven baked little morsels make a … Continue reading →

Typical Day of a Weight Watch Dieter

Ever Wonder What I Eat on a Daily Basis? As many of you might wonder, what’s a typical day like (food wise) as a Weight Watcher’s dieter? People always ask me how I calculate my points, if I’m hungry, and what exactly do I do if I go over my points allotment for the day. The Scoop Points calculations are fairly easy—every product in the grocery store has Nutrition Labels and most restaurants and fast food joints have their info posted or available on-line. The points are a combination of Calories, Total Fat and Dietary Fiber. So if something has … Continue reading →

Gunnar Peterson’s Core Secrets, Part Two

Yesterday morning I got up bright and early, got my workout gear on and headed straight to my living room. If you read my last article, I recently bought Gunner Peterson’s Core Secrets workout DVD. Thought I’d give everyone an update. I’ll admit it, I’m a little sore and my abs are REALLY sore, but I figure that’s a good thing. I’m working muscles that I don’t obviously at my gym workouts, which is exactly what I need. This morning I decided to do the “FUN-damentals” and the “Ab Assault” which sounded like a killer. The Fundamentals was a 25 … Continue reading →

Gunnar Peterson’s Core Secrets (Part One)

Loathe Gym Classes? Try This…. Now if you’re like me, I’m not a big fan of gym classes. I like going to the gym and doing my own workout at my own pace. There’s just something about a super in-shape, six packed women in a bikini that I find a little intimidating. Plus, who can get up, get the kids ready and be at the gym by 8:00 am? Supermom, yes, but not me. I’ve tried tae-bo, pi-low and lots of others, but most of the time I end up so sore that I can’t move for a week and … Continue reading →